Compare towns
Gray vs North Hampton vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gray | North Hampton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429 |
4,543Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | North Hampton School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.